Sperling



Aug. 23, 1932. J. SPERLING COMBUSTION APfARATUS Filed Aug. 20, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /N VENTOR J4me S am/v6 a, a, M I A TTORNE Y FIG. I.

Aug. 23, 1932. SPERLINQ, 1,$73,353

COMBUSTION APPARATUS Filed Aug. 20. 1951 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTO/x JACUB SPEQLING ATTORNEY JACOB srnnune, on Mooians, rnnnsxnvnivm, AssIGnonro w smmeno ssamcmiq 7T Patented Aug. 23, 1932 STA - & MANUFACTURING COMPANY,:A CORPORATION 01'! PENNSYLVANIA COMBUSTION Arrnnn'rus i Application filetl August 20, 1931. serial No. 553,414. j

My invention relates to a control mechanism to be used in conjunction with a bin for storing granular material in either a wet or dry state, and it has for an object to provide] an improved means that will operate indicating or controlling devices used in connection with the bin when the material has reached a predetermined level or levels in the bin.

In accordance with one specific embodiment of my, invention, I provide a mechanism having a paddle disposed within the bin, which paddle is adapted to contact with the body of material as it fills the bin. The mechanism is reciprocated by a rod having a lost motion connection therewith which provides for decreased amplitudes of movement as the paddle contacts with the increasing body of. material in the bin. A tripping lever is pivotally carried by the mechanism and is operf atively connected'to the reciprocating rod.

The tripping lever may either carry a devlce for indlcatmg a level of materlal within the bin, may actuate mechanism for indicating the level or may actuate a controlling switch or valve used to initiate the operationof ap' paratus for removing the material from the bin.

It is, therefore, a further and more specific object of my invention to provide a control mechan1sm,wh1ch operates an indlcatlng or a controlling device when the material within thebin reaches a predetermined level, and which includes as a part thereof a reciprocat ing paddle member, the amplitudes of move- 'ment of which depend upon the particular level of the material within the bin.

These and other objects are eifected forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view in section of an ash y y" invention, as will be apparent from the following description and claims, taken in con- 'nection with the accompanying drawings,

PATENT I oFFICE- Figs. 3 and 4, except thata modified'lever is employed. v l a 'While'my novel control mechanism is applicable to any bin, pit, receptacle, or the like, in which granular material is stored, I have chosen'to show it as applied to the conventional ash pit used in connection with-fur naces for burning solid fuel. i

Referring now to Figs. 1' to 4, inclusive, of the accompanying drawings, it will be observed that I'have shown an ash pit 10, having a clinker grinder mechanism 11 mounted adjacent the upper. portion thereof. .S'uch motion to the arm 13, j

A shaft 14 is journalled in bearings 15 and v 16. which bearings are mounted in side walls, 17, and 18 of the pit 10. Withinthe pit and fixed to the shaft14are paddle member s19 so disposed as to contact with the body of ash as it fills the pit. Exteriorlv of the pit andfixed to theshaft 14 is an arm 20 having bifurcations 21 vatoneend thereof which carrva pivot pin 22; I

' The paddle members 19 are reclprocatedtoward and away from the inner portion of the pit 1 0 by a connecting rod 23, which latter is? pivotally, connected at its upper end by apin, 24 to the-arm 13. The lower end of rod 23 power and when operated imparts oscillatory 76" extends between the bifurcations 21 and is provided with a longitudinallv-extending slot 26 receiving the pivot pin 22. The pin 22 and the slot 26 form a lost motion connec tion to providerelative movement between the connecting rod 23 and the arm 20, the

function of which willappear more fully rod 23 includes a lateral carries a shoulder bolt 28.

The arm 20 carries a pivot 29, at a point between the shaft 14 and the pin 22, and

a tripping lever 3lis pivotally connected intermediate its ends to the pin 29. Spaced actuating fingers 32 and 33 are provided at one end of the lever 31 and a slot 34 sur-. rounding the shoulder bolt 28 is provided 14, and paddles 19.

atthe opposite end." The spaced fingers 32 and 33 are provided with adjusting screws 35 and 36 respectively, which are adapted. to engage and operate a trigger37 for actuat-" ing the device to be operated, for example, an electric switch 38. i w I 1 Having described the working elements of my novel control mechanism, the operation.

will be readily understood and is as follows:

In Fig.2 the parts are'shown in their rela-' tive position. When the rod 12 and arm'13 are at the extreme upper part of their movement, with the pit empty, theswitch 38 is in its off position. As the driving rod 12,.

the arm13,and the rod123 move downwardly,

the arm 20 and paddles 19 also move downwardly, the pin 22 remaining in thebottom of the slot 26 by virtue of the weight-of the paddles 19. Fig. 3' shows the relative positionof the parts at the end of the down stroke.

During a downward movement" of the arm 23, the lever 31 carried by the pivot '29 and the shoulder bolt-28fcarried by the projection 27 :also move downwardly and it will be observed from Fig.3 that the adjusting screw. 35 engages thetrigger'37 of the switch 38 i at the end of a downstroke. With theswitch 38 in the as position, no movement is imparted to the switch 38 by the screw 35 during a down stroke. but if the switch 38 be in the closed or on? position during a down stroke, the adjusting screw 35 will engage the v trigger 37 and will cause it to move downwardly and move the switch '38 to the off,

position. r 7 I The apparatus will operate in the manner just described until the ash within the pit 10 reaches alevel that is within the are described the end of the paddles 19. Vhen this latter occurs, the paddles 19 will, of course, engage the body of ash'and further downward movement of the paddles will be prevented; The connecting rod 23, however,

must continue on its downward travel so the bottom of the slot 29 nowleaves the pin 22 which latter is held up by the arm 20, shatt The rod 23 continues downwardly until the end of the stroke is reached and then begins its upward stroke. During the up stroke, 'thelost'motion'pro vided by the pin 22 and the slot 26 is taken upand when the bottom of the slot 26 again engages the pin 22, the arm 20 and paddle 19 are moved upwardly by the rod 23 until the position shown in Fig.2 is again attained.

It will thus be seen that the stroke or projection 27 which with the paddle 19 engaging the ash and rather the amplitude of movement of the paddles 10 becomes shorter as the level of the ash within the pit 10 becomes higher and also that the arm 20 and pivot pin 29 are in higher positions during the downward strokes of the connecting rod 23. As stated,

one'e'nd of the lever 31 isv pivoted by the pin 28 and slot 34 to the rod 23 and such end moves forthe full length. of the travel of Consequently, during a down stroke preventing further movement of arm20, the lever'31 is moved about the pin 29 and the distance between the adjusting screw 36 and the trigger 37 becomes shorter and shorter.

WVhen the ashwithin the-pinlO has accumulatedto the predetermined level, the arm 20 and pin 29 will be held at aheight, where-. by downward movement ofrod 23 causes the lever 31 to move about thepin 29 asufficient distance to effect engagement of the screw 36 and trigger and thereby movev the switch 38 t0 the -on p0sition. i

Fig. 4 shows the relative position of the 8 parts when the pit is full of ash. The rod 23 is at the lowermost position and the switch 38 is shown as having been moved to the on position.

such,fforexample, as alight 40 is connected toan electrical circuit, and informs the operator' that the pitis full of ash and should In closing the switch a signal device.

be emptied. As has already been explained, when the level oftheash has 'fallen .a sufli;

cient distance to allow the paddles 19 to move to the position shown in Fig. 3, the

adjusting screw 35 engages the trigger 37 of the switch 38, and moves the latter to its open or oft? position, thereby disconnecting the lamp 40 from the circuit.

Referring to Fig.5., mynovel mechanism is shown as having a lever 41 with only one finger .42 and adjusting screw 43., which opcrates a momentary contact switch 44, which latteris adapted to open and close a circuit to a suitable signal or indicating device, for

example, a bell 45. The operation ofthe mechanism in. this embodiment is identical with that described in "connection with Figs. 1 to .4 with the exception that instead of having the finger. 35 and-the adjusting screw 36 to move the switch to off position a spring '46 is utilized to bias the rotating member 47'of the's witch 44-to theopen or This embodiment would be the purposeot indicating or signalling the operator or may be used to initiate the operation of auxiliary apparatus used with the pit. Furthermore, while I have shown my mechanism as being driven by apparatus which is an auxiliary of the ash pit, it will be obvious that a separate drive may be employed.

While I have shown my invention in two forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited but is'susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with a bin for storing granular material and means for filling the bin with such material, of a member disposed within the bin and adapted to contact with the body of granular material as it fills the bin; means for reciprocating said member toward and away from the inner portions of the bin, and providing for decreased amplitudes of movement of such member as it comes into contact with the increasing body of material; and means dependent upon a predetermined level of the material and consequent position of the member for indicating exteriorly of the bin such level;

2. The combination with a bin for storing granular material, means for filling the bin with such material, and a device to be operated when the material within the bin has reached a predetermined level, of a mechanism for operating the device comprising a member disposed within the bin and adapted to contact with the body of granular matebody of material, and means dependent upon a predetermined level of material and consequent position of the member, for actuating said device.

3. The combination with a bin for storing granular material, means for filling the bin with such material, and a device to be actuated when the material within the bin has reached a predetermined level; of a member disposed within the bin and adapted to contact with the body of granular material as it fills the bin; means, including a lost motion connection, for reciprocating the member toward and away from the inner portion of the bin and providing for decreased amplitudes of movement of such member as it contacts of material and consequent position of the member, for actuating the device.

4. The combination with a bin for storing a said device.

granular. :materiahmeans: for filling the bin with such material, and a, device to. be actuated when the material within the bin has reached aupredeterminedflevel, of a paddle disposed within the bin and adapted to contact with the body of granular material asit fills the him, a shaft carrying said paddle; an arm fixedtosaid shaftymeans including'a lost motion connection to said arm for recip-v rocating said paddle toward and away from the inner portion of thepin andproviding fordecreasedamplitudes of movement of the paddle as it contacts with the increasingbody. of imaterial, and means dependent upon a predetermined level of 1material' and conse'- qu'ent position of the f paddle for actuating Y 5. The-combination with a bin for storing granular material, means for filling. the bin with such material, and 'a device to be actuated when the'material within the bin has reached a predetermined level, of a paddle disposed within the bin and adapted to contact with the body of granular material asit fills the bin, a shaft carrying said paddles, an arm fixed to said shaft, a reciprocating rod having a lost motion connection to said arm for reciprocating said paddle toward and away from the innerportion of the bin'and providing for decreased amplitudes of movement of the paddle as it contacts with the. increasing body of material, a lever having a pivotal connection with said arm and operatively connected at one side of the connec" tion to said reciprocating rod; said lever havlng an actuating means at the other side of the pivotal connection; and a trigger for operating said device disposed adjacent said actuating means and adapted to be engaged thereby.

6. The combination with a means for crushing ash discharged from av furnace, a pit for receiving ash discharged by the crush ing means, means for driving the crushing means and a device to be actuated when the ash within the pit has reached a predetermined level, of a mechanism for actuating said device comprising a paddle disposed within the pit and adapted to contact with the body of ash as it fills the pit. a shaft carrying said paddle, an arm fixed to said shaft, a rod for reciprocating said paddle toward and away from the inner portion of the pit, said rod being driven by the driving means that operates the ash crushing means and having a lost motion connection with the arm and providing for decreased amplitudes of movement of the paddle as it contacts withthe increasing body of ash, and means, dependent upon a predetermined level of ash in the pit and consequent position of the paddle, for actuating said device.

7 The combination with a pitfor r-eceiv ing ash having a clinker grinding mechanism associated therewith, means for driving the clinker grinding mechanism and anelectric switch to be actuated when the ash within the" pit has reached a predetermined level, of a mechanism for-actuating the electric switch comprising a paddle disposed within the pit andadapted to contactwith the body ofash as it fills the pit,'a shaft carrying said vpaddle an arm fixed to said shaft, a rod for reciprocating the'paddle toward and away from the inner portion of the pit; said rod being driven by the clinker grinding mecha'- nism and having a lost motion connection to said arm providing for decreased amplitudes of movementof the paddle as it-contacts with the in'creasingbody'of ash, and a; lever operated by the rod and pivotal'ly carried by the arm for actuating the electric switch.

. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto sub- 'scribedv my name this 18th day of August,

JACOB SPER-LING. 

